For the same wind velocity, FloDesign’s Mixer Ejector Wind Turbine (MEWT) having a maximum diameter 50% smaller than an existing 3-Bladed regular wind turbine can potentially generate over 50% more power, and can potentially cost 25-35% less than the same conventional wind turbine (horizontal axis wind turbines, HAWT).
Hat tip to Al fin for this and the Aerogenerator info later in this article.
FloDesign Wind Turbine used advanced aerospace technology to develop the unique, state of the art wind power machine called the Mixer Ejector Wind Turbine. The MEWT machine uses cambered ringed airfoils (shrouds) surrounding a stator-rotor turbine cascade design, and an efficient mixer/ejector pump to produce more energy than a HAWT system from any wind at any site location. The cambered shrouds act similar to an aircraft wing when landing. The camber produces low pressure on the shroud inside surface which sucks in more wind flow into the turbine. The same low pressure on a wing would produce more aircraft lift for landing or taking off.
The low inertia, smaller rotor blades spin faster and provide more energy extraction at both lower and higher wind speeds. The shrouded blades and higher rotor speeds also reduce gear box complexity and result in quieter, safer wind turbines.
Here is a ten page research paper that describes the new Flodesign system
An MEWT can produce much higher power levels at higher annual mean wind speeds—such as encountered in off-shore applications for example.
FloDesign’s MEWT machine also delivers many additional valuable benefits such as:
• Significant load shift from the rotating to static parts
• Earlier, easier startup
• Minimization or elimination rotor stall complications
• More robust, easier to manufacture blades
• Reduction of gearing requirements
• Reduced sensitivity to wind incidence or gusts
• Quieter and safer design
• Lower first and life costs
Another proposed new wind generator is the vertical aerogenerator.
It could be up to 144 meters tall, should have less maintenance costs and could generate up to 9MW.
It will be at least 2013 before we see Aerogenerators as powerful as 9MW
I do not think the Aerogenerator has enough advantages to be the dominant wind turbine design. 9MW is not enough as conventional horizontal systems can be made up to 10MW or more in size by using superconducting wire to reduce component size.
I also believe kitegen can work better